Nadaam in Tsetserleg
Tsetserleg, Mongolia; 7th July
Roadside Tales
Scroll the map for details …
… and explore our stories below.
… and explore our stories
A Tribute to Some of The Ugliest Third World Architecture
Chiang Mai, Thailand; December 2016.
Haste Makes Waste – Getting our Chinese Number Plates
Kashgar, 8th September Day 1: At 10am we’re at the Kyrgyz border: some 15’ and off we are on the 6km long road thru the highly disputed area to the Chinese check post. No question whether we are allowed to cross this area. We arrive at the gate to China. It’s open; we only have…
Nostalgic Excerpts of a Grim Soviet Heritage
Naryn, Kyrgystan: 7th May 2016
The World’s Slowest Border – the Fast Way to Cross it
The Uzbek customs officer asks us how many days we’ve been waiting until finally arriving at his office. Monika tells him that we left Beyneu in Kazakhstan by 8am this morning. He’s pretty astonished.
The Swiss Postal Service – Congo in Swizzyland?
The 1st week of April we are definitely ready to start our journey to the east. Our visa service in Germany has confirmed that they sent our passports some 3 days ago; the car is more or less cleaned and definitely packed.
An All-Inclusive Hotel – and No Clear Conclusion
We arrived at the gate of the multi-stars all-inclusive hotel that will be our all beloved home for the next 3 days. A gate strongly resembling to the immigration gate at the border to another country.
Sultanhani – a Historic Caravanserai on the Silk Road Changes Clients
In the old time before drivers in huge trucks transported all kind of goods all over the world this important business was granted to a kind of herd boys and their camels along the Silk Road. As you can imagine e. g. peanuts where cheaply grown in Chengdu (China), transported on camel back to Milan…
Chris Doof Plocha – the Sad Destiny of a Russian Migrant in Swizzyland
During our hibernation period in Swizzyland we intensively started learning Russian 2 prepare 4 the incredible challenges of our next trip. Well, 4 a while we had a lesson once a week 2 get some basics of this language.
What the Hell is a Tagine? Morocco
In the evening we went to our favourite restaurant to have one of the most famous Moroccan dishes: Tagine.
A Rainy Night in the Desert; Erg Chebbi, Morocco
Later in the afternoon it started raining heavily. We met 3 Germans, father and 2 sons, who planned to have their night out in a tent in the dunes.
China in Morocco – Souvenir Sellers
There is another hair-rising pass we had to conquer the Tizi n’ Tazazert with 2283 m. Very few of this odd tourist species go there.
Moroccan Roads
The road was winding its way through traditional villages, where the inhabitants did even not dare to feed their goats with used plastic bags, desert landscape and fantastic geological phenomena.
Creative Driving in Nouakchott, Mauritania
We arrived in Nouakchott. Immediately they integrated us into their social system for traffic regulations.
Sorry, But All Seems to be About Borders; Rosso, Mauritania
On 13.10. we started our adventure to the far, far north, with the first destination being Mauritania. For days Monika was having nightmares about the border crossing we have to take.
Who Needs Tourists in Senegal?
Cap Skirring, the ultimate tropical beach paradise in Senegal. When we arrived it was pretty quiet.
Socializing With the Uniformed Locals; Guinea Bissau
At the border the Senegalese guys were efficient. They didn’t want anything.
Senegalese Border – No Problem
From Kayes we moved on towards the Senegalese border. Lots of Malian trucks were on the road which was more or less ok.
World Class Accommodation; Kayes, Mali
Of course, in Kayes we had to lodge in the historic Railway hotel.
Just Border Crossings; Togo, Ghana and on 2 Côte d’Ivoire
After all dangers in Togo, leaving the country and entering Ghana was not as easy as we thought it would be.
The Subtle Rise of Democracy in Lomé, Togo
On to Lomé. Here we discovered some interesting issues.
No Pics of Government Buildings; Porto Novo, Benin
In Porto Novo, the proud capital of Benin we went on a discovery tour. There are some beautiful colonial buildings occupied by all kind of Government institutions.
On The Highway in Benin
On the way to Dassa in Central Benin. Some 300 km.
A Meal With a Revenge; Pendjari National Parc, Benin
We planned to visit the Pendjari National Park. As the rainy season started we were afraid the roads might not be practicable and the park closed.
Wine Wreativity, Diemersfontein’s Wine Estate; Wellington, South Africa
We went to a strange area in Western Cape called the wine lands. The farmers grow grapes, white ones, red ones. Wonderful, tasty, sweet grapes.
Back to Laufenburg; Swizzyland
In Laufenburg we opened the entrance door of our apartment just to discover that it was not any warmer than our house in Maseru during the winter months: 9 degrees.
The Border Crossing Barometer Project; Somewhere on the Balkan Route 2 Europe
On this route u cross a really great number of countries u wouldn’t have heard about a few years ago. This implies lots of border crossings and intense socializing with locals hanging around at the border posts.
Border Crossings – Some Statistics
Currently we crossed 14 countries and 13 borders. Time for some remarks on bureaucracy and hassle when moving from 1 place to another.
Camping in the Port of Damietta; Egypt
Tomorrow we should leave Egypt to sail to Turkey. Our fixer was not present; but he sent us 2 sub-fixers, Ahmed and Ibrahim.
1st Class Passengers on the Boat to Assuan, Sudan
Spirits rose as we were to board the ferry. There are rumours that the ferry, built for approx. 200 people, normally takes an average of 500 and still is running.